N. Mendez-Laing has scored a goal for Cardiff City! Assist by K. Zohorè.
Zohore was the player who kept the opportunity alive, flicking a header back for Mendez-Laing to work with. Unfortunately, it is likely to be too little too late.
GOOOOAL! 2-1! Something from nothing for the visitors! The Gunners fail to deal with a cross into the middle and it falls to Mendez-Laing, who cuts inside away from Iwobi before finding the bottom corner.
90'
J. Ralls gets yellow.
Ralls takes Guendouzi out with a very poor challenge and is eventually booked after the advantage is initially played.
89'
Cardiff look short of answers and those missed chances will come back to haunt them. It could be a busy few days in the transfer market if Cardiff are to fight to avoid relegation.
87'
Arsenal, as it stands, are going level on points with Chelsea ahead of their game tomorrow. It is far from a vintage performance from the Gunners but three points are all the matters in the end.
85'
WIDE! Superb play from Lacazette once again as he finds space to chip a cross into the middle where Ramsey rises with a header but it bounces wide of the post.
83'
A. Lacazette has scored a goal for Arsenal! Assist by P. Aubameyang.
Aubameyang and Lacazette's play this season has been superb but this was all of the latter's doing. A forceful and brilliant run from Arsenal's number nine.
GOOOOOOOOAL! 2-0 Arsenal! Brilliant from Lacazette! It has been a frustrating evening for him but he responds in perfect fashion, picking up the ball on the touchline, quickly getting back to his feet after being felled by Bamba and charging through on goal to fire a venomous effort past Etheridge.
81'
K. Harris enters the game and replaces H. Arter.
A. Lacazette gets yellow.
Lacazette has been on the receiving end of some clumsy challenges this evening but this time the referee is not fooled by his antics, issuing a yellow card for simulation.
Final change of the game for Cardiff as Harris replaces the yellow-carded Arter.
78'
Cardiff have been unable to muster a response since Arsenal opened the scoring and the Gunners continue to look for a second goal, though Torreira cannot hit the target with his effort from outside the box.
76'
A. Ramsey enters the game and replaces M. Özil.
Third and final change of the game for Arsenal as former Cardiff man Ramsey comes on to replace Ozil.
Minute
Description
73'
K. Zohorè enters the game and replaces O. Niasse.
Another attacking change for the visitors as Niasse is replaced by Zohore.
72'
Arsenal, finally, find themselves in the driving seat and are looking to put the game beyond any doubt. It does not look like the sort of game that would be settled by a single goal, although Cardiff could still find joy.
70'
N. Mendez-Laing enters the game and replaces B. De Cordova-Reid.
First change of the game for Cardiff as Reid, who missed some glorious opportunities in the first half, is replaced by Mendez-Laing.
68'
Very harsh on Cardiff but they needed to put away the chances they created. Arsenal will hope that the opening goal sparks them into a better performance, it has certainly brought the home fans to life.
66'
Penalty goal scored by P. Aubameyang for Arsenal!
GOOOOOAL! 1-0 Arsenal! Aubameyang makes no mistake from the spot, stepping up to send Etheridge the wrong way and tucking home his 15th Premier League goal of the season.
63'
H. Arter gets yellow.
A very poor challenge from Arter on Guendouzi leaves Arsenal furious and the Cardiff man has his name taken by the referee.
HUGE TACKLE! It finally looks like the chance that Cardiff need to take the lead but Mustafi completes a superb recovery challenge to clear the danger.
62'
An hour gone at the Emirates Stadium and still no signs of the deadlock being broken. Cardiff are creating chances but do not have the quality to take them, while Arsenal have the quality but not the chances.
60'
C. Jenkinson enters the game and replaces S. Lichtsteiner.
Defensive change for Arsenal but it is not Mustafi making way. Instead, Jenkinson replaces Lichtsteiner for his first Premier League appearance for the Gunners since November 2016.
58'
Sarcastic applause from the home fans directed at Mike Dean, who is certainly not a popular man with some of his decisions today.
56'
Cardiff push forward again through Paterson but, once again, his effort on goal flies way off target and does not threaten Leno.
50'
The ball breaks kindly for Paterson and he charges through towards the edge of the box, where he sees a very tame effort with his left foot bobble wide.
48'
The Gunners are showing some attacking spark since the restart but chances are still not emerging as Guendouzi fizzes a shot over the bar.
46'
A. Iwobi enters the game and replaces Mohamed Elneny.
No surprises at the break as Emery shuffles his deck, replacing Elneny with Iwobi.
Arsenal get the second half underway.
45' +2
M. Guendouzi gets yellow.
Arsenal's players furiously surround the referee at the interval to make their case after Bamba's poor tackle on Lacazette moments ago and Guendouzi takes things too far, becoming the latest player to be booked.
45' +1
A single minute of added time at the end of the first half.
HALF-TIME: ARSENAL 0-0 CARDIFF CITY
45'
Arsenal are furious as the referee waves on with Lacazette being caught by what appears to be a clumsy challenge and Cardiff immediately break down the other end but, not for the first time, their final ball is lacking.
43'
Ralls delivers another dangerous corner into the middle and Leno is forced to punch the ball out awkwardly under pressure. Arsenal look desperate for the whistle to be blown.
42'
Cardiff still look like the side more likely to open the scoring. Arsenal are lacking a link between defence and attack, while the Bluebirds continue to create half chances. Warnock's side need to take one of these opportunities sooner or later.
40'
Arsenal are crying out for changes at half time. This has got to be one of their most uninspiring performances of the season, which says a lot considering the inconsistency of the Gunners.
38'
Better from Arsenal as Ozil plays Lacazette a nice pass but the France striker is unable to cut the ball back across the face of goal to a player in a red shirt.
36'
C. Paterson gets yellow.
A late challenge from Paterson on Lichtsteiner sees the Cardiff man have his name taken by the referee.
35'
Torreira tries to weave his way through the Cardiff defence with superb close control of the ball but the door is slammed shut in his face.
33'
Flakes of snow have started to fall at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal continue to patiently try to find a way through. There is absolutely nothing going for them in the final third though, where Lacazette and Aubameyang have barely had scraps to feed from.
31'
Ralls' delivery is again threatening but Arsenal manage to stand firm. Cardiff will be more than delighted with how the first half has progressed so far.
30'
Bennett is the man to take but his effort clatters into the wall and is deflected behind for a corner.
29'
Nacho Monreal gets yellow.
Clumsy defending from Monreal on the edge of the area as he kicks out at Reid, conceding a free-kick in a dangerous position.
28'
Cardiff look to have shifted to a five-man defence and Arsenal just cannot find any room to work with in the final third. It is a game that is crying out for someone to grab it by the scruff of the neck.
24'
Another corner for Cardiff, who continue to find joy stretching the Arsenal defence. Paterson again rises for the header but he cannot test Leno as the attempt is blocked.
19'
Now then, replays of the Cardiff penalty claim from a different angle tell a different story. It seemed it was the pressure from Kolasinac sent Niasse tumbling but it was actually a kick of the heels from Monreal. Arsenal are very fortunate.
18'
Arsenal's turns for half-hearted appeals now as Guendouzi picks out Lacazette, who squirms through the middle and is caught by Manga. He elects to stay on his feet, which may have been why the referee gave nothing.
14'
Arsenal's early performance defensively has done little to erase any nerves that are lingering around the Emirates Stadium and it is obvious this is far from Emery's first-choice defensive line. The old cliche says the best form of defence is attack but the Gunners are offering little at the other end.
12'
Another corner for Cardiff is taken by Ralls but this time Arsenal are able to clear their lines comfortably.
10'
Peltier blocks the run of Aubameyang and Arsenal win a free-kick in a wide position on the left side. Torreira is the man hovering over the ball and he drills a delivery into the middle but Mustafi is unable to make contact at the far post.
8'
Niasse is having to work hard leading the line on his own for Cardiff but the on loan Everton man is already doing a decent job by causing some issues for the Arsenal defence.
6'
First opportunity to create a chance for Cardiff as Niasse wins a corner off Elneny. Ralls' delivery finds the head of Paterson but Elneny is there to block the effort.
4'
The Gunners are dictating the tempo during the opening exchanges and already look dangerous, with Cardiff pegged back inside their own half.
1'
Cardiff get the action underway at the Emirates Stadium!
Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Premier League clash between Arsenal and Cardiff City, following what has been an extremely difficult week for the visitors.
The world of football was shocked last week by the disappearance of Cardiff's new signing Emiliano Sala and a moment of reflection will be taken ahead of kick off. Arsenal have also made the nice touch of including Sala amongst the visiting side in tonight's programme alongside a picture of a daffodil. The player's family are also in attendance.
On the field, Arsenal will be looking to bounce back after an FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United on Friday which has raised questions about Unai Emery's side, although their last league outing was a superb triumph against Chelsea. Cardiff, meanwhile, are two points off safety following their recent defeat to fellow strugglers Newcastle United.
Arsenal XI (4-3-1-2): Bernd Leno; Stephan Lichtsteiner, Nacho Monreal, Shkodran Mustafi, Sead Kolasinac; Matteo Guendouzi, Lucas Torreira, Mohamed Elneny; Mesut Ozil; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette.
Arsenal subs: Petr Cech, Eddie Nketiah, Granit Xhaka, Carl Jenkinson, Aaron Ramsey, Alex Iwobi, Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Cardiff XI (4-1-4-1): Neil Etheridge; Lee Peltier, Bruno Ecuele Manga, Sol Bamba, Joe Bennett; Aron Gunnarsson; Callum Paterson, Harry Arter, Joe Ralls, Bobby Reid; Oumar Niasse.
Cardiff subs: Alex Smithies, Kenneth Zohore, Rhys Healey, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Junior Hoilett, Greg Cunningham, Kadeem Harris.
A woeful first half from an Arsenal perspective, as they have offered nothing, while Cardiff have looked threatening at the other end. Emery has not been afraid to make half-time changes so fair during his reign and it seems inevitable he will switch things up here. Warnock, meanwhile, will want more of the same.
Cardiff deserve a lot of credit for their approach to this game, particularly given the week they've had. Nobody gave them a chance but they have been the better side, although you have to wonder if their opportunity has passed. Arsenal need to take control sooner or later though, with the pressure mounting.
Level on points with Chelsea, who play tomorrow, Arsenal will have a stern test at the weekend against title-chasing Manchester City but have done the job here. Cardiff, meanwhile, do have some positives they can take with them into their clash with Bournemouth.
Thanks for joining our coverage today. Until next time, goodbye.
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